Scientists Accidentally Created a ‘Mutant Enzyme' That Could Solve The World's Plastic Nightmare

A couple years back, scientists discovered bacteria at a Japanese recycling plant that were breaking down a common type of plastic known as polyethylene terephthalate, or PET. With the hope of developing a solution to the world's chronic plastic pollution problem, British and American researchers decided to study the enzyme that the bacteria were using to digest this ubiquitous substance-and now they've made a stunning discovery.
The researchers were only trying to model the enzyme, known as PETase, in order to understand how it works. But they ended up accidentally engineering a “mutant”...Read more ...

Scientists accidentally discovered a mutant enzyme that could help the world eliminate plastic waste

Scientists have created a mutant enzyme that can digest common plastics.
Researchers were looking at an existing enzyme found naturally in landfills.
In the process they inadvertently created a new, more effective version.
The new enzyme can fully eat up PET, the plastic used in bottled water and soft drinks.
It could drastically reduce the time needed for plastic to fully decompose.
Scientists have accidentally discovered a mutant enzyme that can fully eat up and decompose common plastic, and could help the world solve the problem of plastic waste.
Researchers in the US and UK examined an...Read more ...